Song, Stage and Story.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 156, 4 July 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

Song, Stage and Story.

Professor and Madame. Davis, the former a clever exponenb of spiritualistic phenomena, ventriloquism and half a dozen other interesting subjects, and the latter of thoughb reading and second sight, commenced a season at the Optra House lasb week, and are doing well.

On Tuesday next Messrs Delohery, Craydon and Holland'! Elite Company of 25 artista will open at the Opera House fora short season. Amongst the number will be Martini (a triple bar performer),, Horace Dent (an accomplished comedian), the Trevoe Family of acrobats, and Mons. Hyman (who "ia described as a human serpent). The Auckland Amateur Opera Club held their first rehearsal of their next production, «The Gondoliers,' on Wednesday evening lasb. The membership has been largely augmented. Pollard's Opera Company were ab Napier on June 20th. From there they go on to Palmerston North and thence to New Plymouth. The committee of management of the Carnival of All Nations (says the Melbourne • Sportsman '), to be held in the Exhibition, is making exteniive arrangements. The amusementa will cost £10,000, of which Fitzgerald's Circus takes a large proportion. Mr Wallace Brownlow is going to Coolgardio, where he is attracted by the gold fever. Some substantial Australians are eaid to be associated with him in, his venture. , At the conclusion of the New Zealand tour of the Comic Opera Company, Mi*B Florence Young will leave for England. If she can secure a suitable engagement she will accepb it; otherwise she will enjoy herself for six months and then return to the colonies. Miss Alice Holbrook, who remained two years in Sydney and Melbourne after the departure of the Lonnen-Conyers Gaiety Company, ia now in America, playing the parb of Juanita in Sir Arthur Sullivan's comic opera 'The Chieftain,1 in continuation of a tour initiated at Abbey's Theatre, New York, nine months ago. Since leaving Australia, Mise Holbrook has been'frequently interviewed in America, the fact that her sister married Barney Barnato, the South African millionaire, giving added interest to these gosaipy club-chats. Mr Mario Majeroni will shortly (says Melbourne t Table Talk ') be in the unique position of acting in .two different theatres on the same evening. Messrs Brough and Boucicaulb particularly wanted him for1 'The Benefit of the Doubb,' and Mr CWilliameon, anxious to befriend his protege, gave his permission, so fchab Mr Majeroni is to play at the Criterion in ' The Benefit of the Doubt' until halfpasb nine, and at a-quarter to ten he appears as Manager Kaw in ' Trilby,' ab the Lyceum. He has thua-n-quarter ot an hour, to change his clothes and his mnko-up, and go from one theatre to the other. This is one of the Tew cases on record of an Australian actor being engaged in two theatres on the same evening, although it is' not uncommon in London. Even in music-hall life, so far as Australia ia concerned, there are no double engagements, as managers likV to keep an exclusive right to their performers. In London a mueio-hall artist like Miss Alice Learner or Mr' John Coleman do their four or five turns a night at different theatres. Three woman sued a Boston manager because bhe imitation leather on the back of tKe orchestra chairs stained their dresses. One of the women was awarded £2 10s and the other £1 15a.

The largest salary ever paid to a leading lady waß £300 a week, but it required the genius of a Mndjeska to draw that amount, It was while the Polieh actress was playing with Booth and Barreb. '

The Royal Comic Opera Company have had a most successful season in Dunedin. Amongst the pieces produced during the season were * A Gaiety Girl,' *In Town,' 1 The Mikado,' and ' Pinafore.'

Oar London correspondent writes :—The unexpected death of Arthur Cecil, at Brighton, last Thursday, must have come as a severe shock to hundreds of his friends. Never was there a more aggressively healthy man than this popular comedian. His rosy cheeks, his amazing spirits, arid above all his astounding appetite, were a perpetual reproach to less fortunate beings. Apart from his art, Cecil's moat remarkable characteristic was, perhaps, his appetite. Ifa was confidently believed to bo the largest) and most reliable in London ; in tact, the honr of day or night when he could not find room for 'just a onack, dear old boy,'did not, his friends jocularly declared, exist.' Like many other of the distinguished theatrical artists of the day, Arthur Cecil Blunt' (his family . name wan dropped when he took to the stage) was intended by hia father for another profession. He was the eon of a solicitor, who designed the boy not. for the law but for the Army. As a lad Arthur Cecil showed such imitative powers and perception of character that the bent of, hia talent was soon recognised, and after playing as amateur at the historic theatre at Richmond, his career was virtually settled. His aptitude as a comedian, endowed with an original vein of humour, combined with great musical ability, rendered him in 1869 a notable recruit to the German Reed entertainment at the Gallery ot Illustration. He was then about twenty-eight yoars of age. He played in 'No Cards, 1 but a better chance of distinguishing himself came with the production of 'Cox and Box,' Mr Burnand's adaptation of the old farce embellished with music by Arthur Sullivan, the latter at the time beginning to be known to the general public Arthur Cecil's rendering of the serenade to the rasher of bacon materially aided the success of the whitupjcilify, the style of which was then novel. I taw this performance in 1870, and it is memorable to me for two reasons. It was the first I ever went to in London, at)d I laughed at German Reed and Cecil as I have never laughed at anything since. The melodies of the 'Rataplan ' chorus of Coxa ' Out for a Holiday,' and, above all, of 'Hush-abye, Bacon, 1 linger with mo still. The first piece or part was also notable, being Gilbert's ♦ Ages Ago,' with' music, by Frederick Clay. For amateur purposes, I can recommend no more effective operetta. Music and dialogue are alike good. After remaining with the German Reed Company for about five years, he began to attach himself to the regular theatres, and never wenb back to entertainments except to amuse his friends in private, though this made an extensive demand upon him, for he was always welcome in society. . -One of his earliest hita on the stage proper was as the wily Dr. Down-, ward in Wilkie Collins * Miss G.wilt,' : the title part of which was played by the late Ada Cavendish. He'was long a member of the Bancroft's company, both at the old Prince of Wales' (off the Tottenham-court-road), and at the Haymarkeb. His Sir Woodbine Crafton in ' Peril,' and Baron Stein in ' Diplomacy' (the last mentioned of which he resumed at the revival at the Carrick about two years ago, when Mrs Bancroft returned to the stage), were performances so striking, consistent and faithful as to immediately make their mark. Ho was for four years, 1883 to 1887. joint manager with the late John Clayton of the old Court Theatre In Sloane Square, and took part in Pinem'-' r^lebrated farces, 'The Magistrate' an/! • -,y Dick;' On the demolition of tho < .he went with Mrs John Wood to the v. imilding nearly opposite, and there played in several sue cSesful comic pieces, among them 'Aunt Jack' and Pinero's 'The Cabinet Minister.' But the part of all others in which he will be remembered is ' Graves' in • Money. 1 No actor and notress have ever played the inimitable temptation scene of this piece as

he and Mrs Bancroft did. Cecil somehow managed to make Lord Lyfctoa's puppet a natural and even loveable man. Even the lato David James, though admirable in the role, was less convincing. Who will play ft now I can't imagine , At the Wyudhwa benefit, John S. Clark emerges from hit rerirement to assist Mrs Bancroft. LITERARY NOTES. . How long the rich mine of Sonth Set, adventure and experience which Louis Becke has tapped may last, we shoalda'i care to have to predict, but there are no symptoms of its panning out in • The Ebb. ing of the Tide.' If anything, indeed, these stories are stronger and more vividly convincing than •By Reef and Palm •* They have finer literary finish, and display throughout a thoroughly pictor. esque touch. Moreover, through them all runß the grim directness and certitude of the man who knows. These tales odq recognises—and herein lies their euprema fascination—areno mere imaginative effort*, bub fact)-—coloured fact, possibly, bob still faofc. The least satisfactory of the lot are the most cynical. ' Nell of Mulliner's Camp' is one of these. On the other hand, 'Ninia.' • Baldwin's Loiae,' • Mrs Liardet,' * A Boating Party for Two,' and * Deiohard of Oneaka' are Mr BecKe ab his beat. Tbo only unsatisfactory thing aboub the book ia the title, which will ba constantly mixed op with Stevenson's' Ebb Tide.' ;

The title of Mr Granville Bantock'a 'Bound th 9 World with a Gaiety Girl,' suggests flexible ethics, bub the contents are innocent and informative. Mr Bantock ■ has a fine eye (fatherly, of course) for girls of all nations. Thia optic led him to compare the beautio? of Broadway dieadvantageously with those of Collins-street, Melbourne. The American girls, he mainbains, are not a patch on tha blitho and buxom bellea of Australia. Clearly, Mr B, likes his ladies large. He has also a word to say about the theatrical bands of America and Australia which, coming ai they do, from an experienced chef d'orchestre, may interest. The best tbo Gaiety Company met on their travel* was ab the Lyceum Theatre, Sydney, and the worst that of tho Adelaide theatre, ' contemptuously diamiesed as of 'hopeless ' mediocrity.' With Adelaide itself ■■ the ; company were delighted. Mr Bantock says:' Adelaide strikes you ab once as a ■ particularly clean city, besides being, for its eize, laid out to better advantage than any other in the colonies. But it is further from the sea than some folks at Home seem to imagine, and the journey by rail ie anything but a pleasant one. Its public buildings show the usual lavish outlay,:and the mueem is as good aa any in the country. Unliko Melbourne, too, the surroundings being hilly, are beautiful, And the excursion to Bnrneide, with its orange ' trees and bijou waterfall, was pleasant indeed. Our stay here was, however, so ehorb, that any adequate account of this peaceful little city ia impossible.' On the subjecb of Sydney and the Empire ' Hotel Mr Bantock gushes for pages, but ha is not fond of picnics. 'Of Sydney amuso- < ments, a word. They are varied, as Sydney folks are fond of pleasure. First and fore- < mosb came the picnic, that comfortless at ■ fresco repast constantly interrupted by ■• ants and black spiders, bush fires, and snake alarms, for which Australians have such a paesion. For this taste—craze rather— climate is answerable.' Finally, we may ■ quote a Sydney story for which Mr Fred.; haye is responsible. The author eayg: 'An amusing incident may be related hero which Kayo tells about an experience ha had from which be would warn all[future visitors to Sydney. On the morning' after our1 arrival he was lying snug in bed, not having quite made up hie mind whether to get op for his breakfaab or not, when a knock at the bedroom door called forth the usual response. A gentlemanly-dressed man walked in, and familiarly saluted Kays by his Christian name, telling him he had jijat been to see GMfley Ryley, who happened to be staying at the same hotel, nnd that he had accepted '■ an invitation to i inner on a day tha ■ following week, to which he begged that Kaye would do him the honour of coming. Thinking him an old acquaintance of Ryley by the affectionate manner in which - this gentlemen..; spoke of * Charley,' Kaye imagined nothing unusual, and promised to let him have his reply. The visitor, however, seemed in no hurry to go, and eifter sundry glances about the room ' and various'" remarEi" concerning the depresaion in business, he made his way to the dressing-table, on which Kaye had turned out the contents of his; pocket (including money) the previous night;' Picking up a sovereign with a nonchalant air he said, carelessly, " 1 suppose yon can leb me have this until Monday.' 'Certainly, 1 replied Kaye, not yet suffix ' ciently awake to the world's wicked-1 ness. 'May as well make it two/ > was the inviting rejoinder as tha stranger added another precious coin to '• bis former loan, and gradually made hi» way to the door, departing with the friendly;' words, * hoping to see you on Monday, and pay you back without fail:' The story does not end here, Kaye began to smell a ' rat, • and, jumping out of bed, dressed ; hurriedly and made his way to Ryley'a room,' from whom he learned that he had ' no such friend as Kaye described. The landlord was next interrogated as to the man's identity, and, having received a foil description of hit personal appearance, said laconically, ' Ohj that's— —' How much money had you on your dressing fable! 1 Kaye bethoughb a moment, and then said, • about five pounds.' • Then you are three ' pounds to the good,' replied the landlord; whereat Kaye dissembled and departed tad at heart. He never saw that man again. Messrs Mnc&fillan are adding a complete net of excellent translations of AlphonM Daudet's novels to their Colonial Library. Amongst the most noteable recent ieiuei are Mr A. E. W. MasbriV stirring romance •The Courtship of Morrice Buckler' (which Mr Traill justly estimates as eqnal to Stanley Weyman'a boHb workf. "A Sweet Disorder,' by Norm* Lorimer; ' The Judge of Four Corners,' by G. B. Burgin; and •■ The Island of Dr. Thoreau,' by H.C. Wells. •The Dishonourable,' by J. C. Hennessey, is a Queensland novel written around J the fcreab floods of a few years back ab Brisbane. It seems a fairly readable de- "• tective story with littie distinctively And- ( tralian aboub it. Geo. Jackson's adventures mighb equally well have occurred in Engjaud. t ■ Miss Emily Spldene'a forthcoming novel, v •Young Mr Staple.' will be brought ont by Ward and Downey early this month. Mr Gilbert Parker's «*w novel, 'The > Scab of the Mighty,' is to be published by Messrs Methueri. The applicahoa of the title to the" story is to be found, for one-thing in the" fact that a humble English captain marries the beroroe_ in defiance of a great suitor, a French noble. The scene of the novel is laid in Quebec, during the siege, and the volume is iUaafcrated by re-productions from old engrav. ■ ings having reference to the battle grounde.